Why Read Words of Inspiration?
Maybe you've heard or read this line before:
What does it profit a man to have
gained the whole world, and to have lost his soul? - Jesus Christ
Words of inspiration, whether sayings from the present day
or centuries past, can inspire and instruct us. It is true regardless
of the religious, spiritual, or even non-spiritual tradition
they come from. In fact, quotes that strike at the truth of the
matter can come from scoundrels, saints, and ordinary people.
They help us "program" our brains for a better life.
Do not seek to follow in the footsteps
of the men of old. Seek what they sought. - Basho
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence,
then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle
Logical arguments and philosophies often attempt to "capture"
truth in a net of words to build systems of knowledge, or to
satisfy egos. Logic is important, but when mis-used it leads
to confusion. Inspirational sayings cut through the fog and point
at the truth, so you can see it for yourself.
Suppose you are trying to decide whether to do what you love
now, and possibly fail, or wait a few more years. Since, outside
of mathematics, virtually all reasoning is tainted with rationalization,
and you have sufficient brainpower, you can support whatever
you decide with "logical arguments," right?It's no
wonder we're often confused and demotivated! How can we trust
our own reasoning, if it just finds a logical construct for whichever
fear or other feeling is strongest!
Now suppose you read the following words of inspiration:
You miss 100 percent of the shots
you never take. - Wayne Gretzky
You can see how this hockey metaphor might touch you precisely
because it isn't just a logical argument. It simply points at
a truth you can see for yourself - the fact that you can't get
what you want without "taking that shot." Simply seeing
the truth is far more motivating than arguing about it. That's
the value of reading words of inspiration. Here are a few more...
In your mind you can see what is
possible; through your actions you can create what you've seen.
- Tuesday Hirron
To see clearly, act wisely and appreciate
what we have is all that's required for a good life. Hope, money,
and endless desires are all optional. - Mike Hunter
Let go of who you think you are and
let the teachings of the moment reveal what you can be. - Vinod
Harghat
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